Knitting needle



J. J. ROBBINS KNITTING NEEDLE April 7, 1953 Filed Aug. 2, 1948 FII3 L Patented Apr. 7, 1953 KNITTING NEEDLE Jesse J. Robbins, Glendale, Calif., assignor to Stylofede Corporation, a corporation of California Application August 2, 1948, Serial No. 42,109

22 Claims.

The inventionrelates to knitting needles and ,more' particularly to the circular or hoop type of needle used for knitting an annularly or endless. closed course such as desired in the knitting or skirts, sweaters and other seamless garments ,or portions thereof.

I Circular knitting needles of the type to which the "present invention relates have been constructed of a pair of steel rods, sometimes called pins, pointed at one end for engagement with the yarn to be knitted and connected at their opposite ends to the opposite ends of a flexible j'steel cable forming the body or hoop part of the "needle, and onto and over which the knitted loops are advanced as they are formed by the pins. While the steel cable is intended to provide the flexible part of the needle, it'is, nevertheless,- quite stiff and resilient, making the needle somewhat difflcult and awkward to hanldle and'limiting the use of the needle to garments having a relatively large diameter. For examvple, the steel cable type of knitting needle can- "not be used for knitting items such as socks, sleeves or garments of like diameter, and it is customary in such instances to use a plurality of straight needles set in a polygonal fashion around the closed course to be knitted. j As will be understood, the most active flexing "of the circular-type needle, and consequently the greatest wear and strain, occurs at the joinder "between the pins and the cable and directly at fthe ends of the cable, due to the rapid and constant manipulation of the pins in the hands of "the user. This concentration of strain and wear at the ends of the cable causes the breaking and frayin'g of the strands of the cable at its ends after a limited period of use, requiring the repair or replacement of the needle.

An object of the present invention is to prof vide a knitting needle of the character described having an improved combination of materials in the pins and flexible body part of the needle, and an improved method of and construction for permane'ntly securing such parts together, whereby there is afforded a needle of suchextreme lightjne'ss' "in weight and flexibility as to be ideally 'manipulatable in the hands of the user and-capable of use in knitting small-diameter garments ch *as' socks, sleeves and the like.

Another. object'of the invention is to provide {known qualities of metal with the extremely tough, durable and flexible qualities of certain plasticsin' the cable portion of the needle, and in so joining and attaching these parts as to pro- "acircular-typeknitting needle combiningwellvide' a needle which w l positively prevent breaking or fraying of the cable at the pins, and to be -otherwise practically indestructible in the course 'of normal use.

The invention possesses other objects and fea-- tures of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention-which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the-scope of the invention'as set forth in the claims. Referring to said drawing: a v= Figure 1 is a side elevation of a knitting needle constructed in accordance with the present invention. t Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the joinder portions of the.cable and pin of the needle.

- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the part of the needle illustrated in Figure 2 andis taken substantially onthe plane of line 3-3 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view similar'to Figure 2 but showing a modified form of construction. Figure 5 is alongitudinal cross-sectionalview similar to Figure 4 but showing a difierent position of the parts.

The circular knitting needle illustrated inthe accompanying drawing is composed of a pair of relatively stifl, slender, elongated, rod-like members or pins 6 and I, which are pointed. at their ends 8 and 9 for engagement with the yarn to be knitted and facilitating the inter-looping of the yarn into knitted stitches, as is understood. These pins are preferably formed of metal such as steel, aluminum or alloys thereof,

= and for lightness and ease of handling I prefer to use an aluminum alloy such as is known generally under the name Durel. In accordance with the present invention-and as aSprincipal feature thereof, the central flexible .body

.or cable portion II of the needleis formed-of a length of a tough, durable and flexible plastic 1 having the opposite end portions l2 and-13 secured to the rear ends 14 and iii of the pins 6 and l. Preferably, the central or body portion of the present needle is composed of monofilament nylon, which aifords the needle extreme stirengthanddurability as well as a flexibility permitting the needle to-' be much shorter in length and therefore capable of' knitting smallervent breaking of the nylon at the joinder, where constant flexing takes place.

The joinder of one end 12 of the nylon cord H to one end IQ of the pin '6 is illustrated in Figure 2, it being noted that the joinder of the opposite cord end 43 to the other pin end It is denti al. in co strn iien andihei i e e n Aescri t npi th ne sensati n I em-t e in Figure 2 will s m With reference to this fig ure, it will be noted that the nylon mono-filaaihpn wy i ior, defi ed hr th i i e 'wel i l qft i befl id wh i s di t iid ealid pr sse over andjcompressedupon a reducedcylindrical en P t on won t e, pin T ee aqtiqn in the normal diamet oft e tQP Vt the end portion l8 deflnes, attlie inner end of such portionhan annular shoulder 19 against which the end-face 2Lofthe nylontubeis abutted, also,

the normal diameter of the pin 6 is somewhat ment cord 1 t is tubular construction, having greater than the external diameterrof the tube j 11-, and a peripheral portion 22 of the pincontiguous With'shoulder !9 is tapered in the direction of the shoulder to provide thereat a diameter equal to the external diameter of the :tube, so as to afiord a smooth peripheral joinder between the tube end andthe pin at the shoul- "der 19. .To hold the cord permanently aflixed on-the pin end portion I8, thela'tter is provided withfa plurality of longitudinally-spaced annular serrations or barbs 23, which are imbedded into the inside wall I! of the tube, due to the normal compression action of thetube wall against the periphery of end portion I8. If desired, the serrations 23 may be formed of threads on the periphery of pin portion l8 so that the tube end may be conveniently attached by threading onto the portion [8. 'In any event,v the forming of the diameter of the serrations 23 slightly larger than the normal internal diameter of the tube will cause these serrations to be firmly imbedded in the nylon wall and provide a powerful gripping action permanently securing the nylon on the metal shank and positively prevent the longitudinalseparationof these parts under ordinary use or deliberate pulling of the pins.

As has been hereinbefore noted, the principal strain on the needle occurs at the point of joinder between the flexible cord and the pins, and in the present construction, in the cord adjamcent to end face 24 of the pins. While the tubular form of the cord provides more than adequate strength and flexibility at this point, there, may be a tendency, after acute bending of the pin relative to the cord, to effect a creasing ofthe tube adjacent to pin end 24. To prevent this creasing and to otherwise reinforce the nylon tube adjacent itsjoinder to the pin, 1 insert vwithin the tube ll and throughout its critical l n t s: d ii et rzfi pcfi o dhfie ib aylen r qrs .As m yib se n. f QmrF s re there is provided in the pin end portion 18 a central bore or recess 21 openin to the end face 24 thereof, within which is mounted and secured one end 28 of the nylon cord 26, the opposite end 29 of the cord 26 extending from the end face 24 of the pin by a distance more than suflicient to cover the critical area of bending. Desirably, the cord 26 has a length of up to about one inch. I, A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing wherein the and M of the pin 6' is provided with a recess or borejl extending substantially axially thereof and opening to the end face 32 of the pin. The internal wall 33 of the bore 3| is preferably freugheined on'serrated in some fashion so as to provide a plurality of internal projections 34 spaced axially along the bore. These serrations are iiesiralcl'y termed by tapering the bore to provide t;hreads extending peripherally around the Wall 33 and in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of the recess. Desir-ably, theintern-al edge of the thread is relatively'flat 'that isg'not r d'ucedto afsh'arp point, as may be'acc' lished b u in a all d a ei i a m eit eb r create a tap whichp'rovid'es something iessuan a fullthre'a'd.

The flexible nylon nonoefilament earn 11" "of theneedle'ispreferably solid in this f w mQoffthe invention and is. formed with screamed cylindricalfend portion 35 having a diameter approximately "equal to the internal diameter tithe-tore nieasured across the proj ection's 34, less clearance, lfso as to permit 'eiiwfl e e/.1. o 7 W V .o illustrated in 'gurekl, the periphery oipl'n end 'ferential compression and a smaptn taper eii tcthe; p'eripheryof dieters If! f "as illustrated in Figure 5. The se'ersqaare 'o'r flat threads as above discussed is of importance in seen-fittings. very strong imbedding of the threads into the'E'ord without danger 'of cutting or seve'ring the'ceie. I As will be seen from the'drawings, the reduction in diameter of ortend 36 provide atfthe outer end o' f the peruse 36 an annular shoulder .1 wh h eb i th emcee ni r te-tn f important reamed: thepresent construction; the end wall 32 is "formed with'a rounded come r38 in the bor n, which fits into a sim'nariy iaun'a ea corner 39 at the base of shoulder '3"1,-and thereby substantially extends ftheglength or has of the coifd portion subject to 'hingemovement. These eterret ies sneere?sees war s a t th r pe t S mew a l ke? -c dis d un ersal ieini an m teria ly, s ei g h connection between the cord and the pin'at this "D m ni-v.v c i c c 1 lit/ l w be deer that t er n ttin ne e 0. te pre e t ey i is y r-y sht.ihweie t;

ea nest. ea lnm pinu e ed in theh u 9.? he use is so perfectly flexihlethat much sherter lengths may. be used for knitting smaller-diameter rounds ha new i thme n at e e te 'ef e .ere lelele an see, e h y ee iie fq t e meta and nylon epnstructioir, is;extremely d urable and practically indestructiblein ordinary use.

.1 ci il on; i it, all WWW; 1 1. A circular-type knitting needle b'omprising', a

pair of round slender metal rods each tapered to a point at one end for engagement with the yarn to be knitted, and a nylon cord havingits opposite ends telescopically engaged with the opposite ends of said rods, said last-named rod ends being formed with annular peripheral serrations imbedded into said cord ends.

? 2. 'A knitting needle comprising, an elongated slender metal rod, a flexible nylon cord having one end thereof secured to one end of said rod, one of said ends being provided with a bore telescopically receiving said other of said ends, said rod end being formed with a plurality of peripheral serrations imbedded into said cord end, the periphery of said rod adjacent to the end thereof being tapered to the diameter of said cord so as to provide a smooth peripheral joinder between said rod and cord.

3. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated round slender rod pointed at one end for engagement with the yarn to be knitted, and a flexible cord of plastic material having a tubular end telescopically receiving the opposite end of said rod, said last-named rod end being formed with peripheral serrations imbedded into the internal wall of said tubular cord end.

4. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated round slender rod pointed at one end for engagement with the yarn to be knitted, a flexible cord of plastic material having a tubular end telescopically receiving the opposite end of said rod, said -last-named rod end beingformed with peripheral serrations imbedded into the internal wall of said tubular cord end,-and a flexible plastic cord secured to said last-named rod and extending therefrom into the tubular. interior of said cord end.

5. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated metal rod pointed at one end for engagement with the yarn tobe knitted and formed with a reduced cylindrical portion at the opposite end thereof, a flexible nylon tube having one end inserted upon and telescopically receiving said rod end portion, said rod end portion being formed with outstanding peripheral serrations imbedded into the internal wall of said tube, said rod being tapered in the direction of said reduced portion thereof to the external diameter of said tube so as to provide a smooth'peripheral joinder between said tube end and said rod, and a length of nylon cord secured to said last named rod end and extending longitudinally therefrom in the 'hollow interior of said tube, p

6. A circular type knitting needle comprising,

a pair' of elongated slender metal rods each pointed at an end for engagement with the yarn to be knitted and formed with a reduced cylindrical portion at the other end terminating in an annular shoulder and provided with a plurality of annular serrations, a flexible nylon tube having the opposite ends thereof inserted over and compressed upon said reduced portions to imbed said serrations into the interior wall of said tube and with said tube ends in abutment with said shoulders, said rods being tapered to said shoulders to provide thereat a diameter equal to the external diameter of said tube thereby affording a smooth peripheral joinder between said rod and tube, said second-named rod ends being formed with axially extending bores, and a pair of lengths of flexible nylon cord mounted interiorly of said tube adjacent the opposite ends thereof and secured in said rod end bores.

7. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated slender rod of relatively stiff material formed axially extending bore opening to its opposite end, the side wall of said bore being threaded to provide a plurality of peripheral threads in the axis of the bore, and a cord of plastic material having one end inserted in said bore, the periphery of said rod adjacent said bore beingcompressed about said cord thereby embedding said threads into said cord and tapering said rod periphery to the second-named end thereof to provide a smooth joinder of said periphery with the periphery of said cord.

9. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated round slender rod having an axially extending opening to an end thereof, theinterior wall of said bore being formed with a plurality of serrations, a round nylon cord having a diameter smaller than the diameter of vsaid rod end and larger than the diameterof said bore, an end portion of said cord being of a reduced diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said bore and defining an annular shoulder at the joinder of said reduced portion and remainder of said cord, said cord end portion being positioned in said bore with said shoulder in abutment with said rod end, the end portion of said rod surrounding said bore being compressed about said cord, said serrations being thereby embedded into the periphery of said cord end portion and the diameter of said rod end being reduced to the outside diameter of said cord shoulder.

10. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated round metal rod having a bore opening to an end face thereof, said bore being threaded to provide a plurality'of longitudinally spaced threads, said end wall being rounded to provide an annular convex surface, a round nylon cord having a cylindrical end portion of reduced diameter fitted into said bore and an annular shoulder at the outside end of said portion mounted against ing formed with an annular concavity fitting the convex surface of said rod end face, the portion of said rod surrounding said bore being compressed about said cord, said threads being thereby embedded into said cord end portion and the diameter of said rod end face being reduced to the outside diameter of said shoulder and the convex and concave surfaces aforesaid being pressed into bearing engagement.

" 11, A- circular type knitting needle comprising, a pair of knitting needles of relatively stiff form, a central flexible body portion composed of nylon tubing, the ends of said body portion being telescopically mounted over and secured to ends of said needles, and elongated flexible elements connected to said needle ends and extending therefrom interiorly of said body portion.

12. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated slender rod of relatively stiff material formed with an axially extending recess opening to an end thereof, and a relatively flexible nylon mono-filament cord having an end inserted in said recess, said rod end being compressed about said cord end, said compression constituting the onlyineans-ror securing said rod and cord against separation.

11% A circular type knitting needle comprismg, a pair of round slender rods of relatively stifi material each tapered to a point at one end for engagement with the yarn to be knitted, and a flexible cord of plastic material having its -op=- posite ends telescopically engaged with the "op Iposite ends'of said rods, said last-named'rod ends being formed with annularperipheral serrations embedded into 'sa'id cord-ends.

14, A knitting needle comprising, an elongated slender rod of relatively stiflf material, 'a flexible ''cord 'of Tplasti'c material having one end thereof secured to one 'eh'djof said rod, one of said ends being provided with a bore telescopically receiving the other "of "said ends, said rod end being formed with a plurality oflpe'ripheral serrations *ernbedd'ed into "said cord "end, the periphery of saidrod adjacent to tne endth'ereof being tapered to the diameter "of said cord so as to provide a smooth peripheral joinder between-said rod and cord.

16.-A knitting needle comprising, an elongated roun'd'slender rod point'ed at one end for'engagement with the ya'rn tobe knitted, and -a flexible "cord 0': plastic material having a tubular end telescopically receiving the opposite end of said rod, said last named rod end being roughened "and having n diameter slightly larger than the normal internal diameter of said tubular end, whereby-"said tubular end is compressed-against said 'lastnanied rod end so to secure saidrod and cb'rd against separation.

16. k n itting needle comprising, an elongated roli 'nd slender rodpomted'at one end for engagement'yvith the yarn to be knitted, and a flexible cord or nylon having a tubuia'r end "telescopically receiving the opposite end of said rod, said last- 'n'amed rod end being "roughened and having a diameter slightly larger than the normal internal diameter of said tubular end, whereby said tubular end 'is compressed against said last name'd rod end so as-to'secu-resaid rod and cord against separation.

17'. A'circ'ular'type knitting-needle comprising, apair or knitting needles of relatively-stiff form, -a central flexible body'portion com'posed of nylon tubing, the ends of said body portion being telescopically engaged with the ends of saidneedle's, andelon'gated means extending from said needle *ends 'interiorl-y "of said tubing 1 for supporting the Walls thereof against collapse adjacent the join- "der tosaid needle ends.

1-8. A circular type knitting needle comprising, *a pair of knitting needles er rel'atii'fely s'tiif rorm, a central flexible body portion composed-of nylon t'ubi'n'g, the ends of said body pertion being telescopically engaged with the ends- 0f said needles and elongatedineans 'connected to said 'needle ends anasxtendin therefrom interi'orl'y of said body portion.

, 19. A circular type knitting needle comprising,- a pair :of knitting needles of relatively stiff Iorm, a central flexible body portion composed of nylon tubing, the ends of said body portion being telescopically engaged with ends of said needles, said needle ends being formed with "axially extending recesses, and elongated flexible reinforcing means secured in said recesses and extending therefrom interiorly of said tubing for supporting the walls thereof adjacent said needle ends.

20. -A circular type knitting needle comprising, apair bf knitting needles of relatively stiff form, acentral flexible body portion composed of nylon tubing, the ends-of said body portion being telescopically engaged with the ends of said needles. and flexible elongated means connected to said needle ends and extending therefrom interiorly of said body. portion.

21. In a circular type knitting needle, a pair of knitting needles, and a central flexible -body portion composed of mono-filament nylon cord, the opposite ends of said body portion and one end of each of said needles being compressively secured to one another ina substantially smooth peripheral joinder.

'22. In a-circular type knitting needle, a pair of knitting needles, and a central vflexible bodyportion composed of mono-filament nylon cord, the opposite ends of said body portion and one end of each of said needles being secured to one another in asubstantially smooth peripheral join 'd'er,

JESSE J. ROBBINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name "Date 671,712 'Soderberg Apr. 9, 1901 774,716 Barrett Nov. 8, 1904 1,286,125 Sessions Nov. '26., 1918 1,960,133 Aiva'zian May 22,1934 1,989,352 I Davis Jan. 29, 1935 1,999,691 Graham Apr. 30, 1935 2,043,958 Engl June 9, 1936 2,045,268 Graham June 23, "1936 2,059,968 'Le'Febvre Nov. 3, 1936 2,061,282 Leboff NOV. '17, 1936 2,096,483 "Cook Oct. 19, 1937 2,230,495 Kohlman Feb. 4, 1941 2,274,255 Pierce "Feb. 24, 1942 2,353,875 Burnh'am June 18,1944

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 215,642 Switzerland 1- July 15,1941 392,667 Great Britain -1 May 25,1933 

